Category: PPGA

PGA of America Golf Professional Zach Barbin Wins 2025 Philadelphia Players Championship in Sudden-Death Playoff

September 22, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Golf Professional Zach Barbin Wins 2025 Philadelphia Players Championship in Sudden-Death PlayoffPPGA

Buckingham, Pa. (September 22, 2025) — PGA of America Golf Professional Zach Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club in Rising Sun, Maryland, made a par in a sudden-death playoff to better Dave McNabb of Applebrook Golf Club, and win the 2025 Philadelphia Players Championship at Lookaway Golf Club.

Both Barbin and McNabb each finished their rounds in regulation with scores of 7-under-par 65, setting up the playoff. Barbin’s round featured an eagle, nine birdies, and two bogeys.

“I played great golf today,” Barbin said after the conclusion of the playoff. “I’ve been playing very nicely the past few weeks, and 7-under on any golf courses is really good, so I’m very pleased with that.

“I always want to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ, my wife, my family, Scott and Karen Hutchinson for all they have done for the Section, our partners, Lookaway Golf Club, and the Section staff.”

The championship’s presenting partners, Scott and Karen Hutchinson have helped to make the event’s purse one of the Section’s largest, at over $28,000, with $6,000 going to the champion.

Wilmington Country Club’s Ryan Rucinski tied for third place with    LuLu Country Club’s Trevor Bensel at 5-under-par. Michael Little, Clubhouse 54, and Andrew Cornish, Green Valley Country Club, tied for fifth place, three strokes behind the winner.

McNabb took home the top prize in the Senior Division, bettering Sunnybrook Golf Club’s Mark Sheftic and John Cooper by five strokes. Brian Kelly, Titleist Fitcrew, and Frank Bensel, Galloway National Golf Club, tied for fourth place at 1-over.

After the trophy presentation, event partner Scott and Karen Hutchinson presented the Section’s 501(c)(3) charitable foundation, PGA of America REACH Foundation Philadelphia, a $20,000 donation, to support PGA HOPE Philadelphia clinics.

To view the 2025 Philadelphia Players Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 2025 Philadelphia Players Championship’s present partners are Scott and Karen Hutchinson, and is supported by Anderson Ord, Callaway Golf, and Destination Kohler. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Lookaway Golf Club, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

The next Rolex / Haverford Trust Company Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year points event is the Delaware Valley Open at Trump National Golf Club Philadelphia on Monday, September 29.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

PGA of America Golf Professional Michael Little Wins 2025 Jack Jolly & Son Championship

September 8, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Golf Professional Michael Little Wins 2025 Jack Jolly & Son ChampionshipPPGA
Mount Laurel Township, N.J. (September 8, 2025) — PGA of America Golf Professional Michael Little of Clubhouse 54 in North Wales, Pennsylvania, finished with a 5-under-par 66 to win the 2025 Jack Jolly & Son Championship at Laurel Creek Country Club by one stroke over Zach Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club. Today’s win is Little’s first Section win of the season.

Little had previously won this championship in 2016 at Concord Country Club. The field had its hands full with the course and its setup today, with the scoring average nearing 78; Little, however, had a hot start, going 5-under on the front nine, and finished even on the back nine.

“It was nice to have everything come together today,” Little said after signing his scorecard. “I only missed one green, and the putter was hot today, which helped.”

Little went on to thank his wife, kids, Jack Jolly & Son Inc., Kevin McClellan, everyone at Clubhouse 54, Laurel Creek Country Club, the Section staff, and to fellow PGA Members Mark Sheftic and John Bierkan for the recent help on his game.

Riley Wheeldon, Aronimink Golf Club, finished in third place, three behind Little. Five PGA Professionals tied for fourth place at 2-under-par: Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green Golf Club; Austin Barbin, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club; Trevor Bensel, LuLu Country Club; Rocco Sgrillo, John F. Byrne Golf Course; and Scott Chisholm, Rolling Green Golf Club.

Spring Ford Country Club’s Rich Steinmetz earned top honors in the Senior Division, bettering two PGA Professionals by two strokes: Mark Sheftic, Sunnybrook Golf Club; and John Pillar, Country Club at Woodloch Springs. Terry Hertzog, Bent Creek Country Club, finished in fourth place at 2-over.

The Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Bill Sautter finished with a 2-under-par 69 to top the Super Senior Division by two strokes over Deerwood Country Club’s Greg Farrow and finished five ahead of PGA Life Member Wayne Phillips.

The Philadelphia Assistants’ Organization (PAO) held an event concurrently with the Jack Jolly & Son Championship, and Zach Barbin walked away with the top prize at 4-under-par. Barbin’s brother Austin tied for second place with Trevor Bensel and Rocco Sgrillo, John F. Byrne Golf Course, at 2-under-par. Pine Valley Golf Club’s Matt Zehner finished in fifth place with an even-par round of 71.

To view the 2025 Jack Jolly & Son Championship leaderboard, click here.

The 2025 Jack Jolly & Son Championship’s title partner is Jack Jolly & Son Inc., and is supported by KM Golf Sales / Kevin McClellan. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Laurel Creek Country Club, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

The next Rolex / Haverford Trust Company Philadelphia PGA Player of the Year points event is the Philadelphia Players Championship at Lookaway Golf Club on Monday, September 22.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Playing Through: Nick Biondi, PGA (S2E9)

September 8, 2025Comments Off on Playing Through: Nick Biondi, PGA (S2E9)PPGA

Welcome to the latest episode of the Philadelphia PGA Section’s web series, “Playing Through,” where PGA of America Golf Professionals, Section staff, Section partners, and other industry professionals are asked 18 questions about their lives and careers.

This episode features PGA of America Member Nick Biondi, the PGA director of instruction at Radley Run Country Club in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

To watch the episode, click on embedded video below.

If you are interested in appearing in a future episode, please complete this form by clicking here. To watch past episodes, click here.

PGA of America REACH Foundation Announces 2025-26 Class of PGA WORKS Fellows

September 4, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America REACH Foundation Announces 2025-26 Class of PGA WORKS FellowsPPGA

FRISCO, Texas (Sept. 4, 2025) – The PGA of America REACH Foundation, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, has announced the 2025-26 class for the PGA WORKS Fellowship.

The PGA WORKS Fellowship, established in 2017, provides the opportunity for a paid immersion in a PGA of America Section’s Foundation operations. PGA Sections oversee the 41 regions of the PGA of America across the United States and help create the network of communication and community for PGA of America Golf Professionals and amateur golfers nationwide.

The PGA WORKS Fellowship is one of the most valuable entry-level opportunities for individuals from all backgrounds to gain experience in the golf industry. The Fellowship gives recent college and university graduates a first-hand look at everything that a career in the $102 billion golf industry can provide.

The primary responsibilities of the 23 PGA WORKS Fellows will be to support and execute philanthropic initiatives for the charitable foundations of their respective PGA Sections. This includes assisting with marketing, communications and fundraising activities, as well as PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) programming for Veterans and junior golf initiatives such as PGA Jr. League and Drive, Chip & Putt.

“We are thrilled to welcome our new class of PGA WORKS Fellows to their respective PGA Sections,” said PGA of America President and Master Professional Don Rea Jr., PGA Owner/Operator of Augusta Ranch Golf Club (Arizona). “Our PGA WORKS Fellowship program isn’t just about opening doors, it’s about equipping the next generation of leaders and ensuring those doors lead to meaningful career paths and lasting connections.”

As part of PGA WORKS’ mission, Fellows are encouraged to continue their careers in golf following their fellowships with direct access to both PGA of America Career Consultants and mentors to help achieve their career goals. In the history of the PGA WORKS Fellowship, 89 percent of all Fellows have acquired jobs within the golf industry, and 83 percent have acquired full-time positions upon completing their fellowship.

Past Fellows have gone on to work for Titleist, the First Tee, the USGA, APGA and the PGA Tour, among other golf companies, sporting organizations and leading industries. Others have continued their education or taken their career in golf a step further by attaining PGA of America Membership.

Currently, seven PGA WORKS Fellows Alumni work for the Association at the Home of the PGA of America in Frisco, Texas: PGA WORKS Leader Cameron Dinkins; PGA WORKS Program Coordinator Iyannei Miranda; PGA REACH Events Coordinator Caroline Riggs; PGA Jr. League Grants Coordinator Tomie Anderson, PGA Jr. League Specialist Dayvon Collins, Membership Representative Cameron Jones and Education Faculty Rosa Jones, PGA.

2025-26 Class of PGA WORKS Fellows

Patrick Appel; Fairfield, Calif.; University of California, San Diego; Northern California PGA Section

Mackenzie Blake; Buffalo, N.Y.; SUNY Cortland; Western New York PGA Section

Claire Calabro; West Chester, Penn.; Florida State University; Gateway PGA Section

Will Cisko; Sparta, N.J.; Rutgers University; New Jersey PGA Section

Kenadie Daegar; Payne, Ohio; University of Northwestern Ohio; Michigan PGA Section

Katherine Foerg; University Heights, Ohio; Niagara University; Northern Ohio PGA Section

Shandiin Harper; Farmington, N.M.; Western New Mexico University; Sun Country PGA Section

George Hill; Jackson, Miss.; University of Alabama; Metropolitan PGA Section

Jacob Hillan; Rensselaer, Ind.; Ball State University; Indiana PGA Section

Leann Kelly; Dunwoody, Ga.; Auburn University; Southern Texas PGA Section

AJ Kisting; New Berlin, Wis.; St. Norbert College; Wisconsin PGA Section

Harlee Lucier; Parish, N.Y.; Utica University; Central New York PGA Section

Savannah Nissel; Ocala, Fla.; Rollins College; North Florida PGA Section

Emmett Noone; Center Valley, Penn.; Temple University; Philadelphia PGA Section

Kennedy Pickering; McKinney, Texas; University of Colorado Boulder; Northern Texas PGA Section

Nina Piscitello; Sacramento, Calif.; California Baptist University; Southern California PGA Section

Sydney Reichard; Brookline, N.H.; University of South Carolina; New England PGA Section

Bryan Sandoval; Littleton, Colo.; University of Colorado Boulder; Colorado PGA Section

Emme Speas; Camas, Wash.; Colorado State University; Carolinas PGA Section

Issie Spray; York, England; Jacksonville State University; Southern Ohio PGA Section

Noah Tietsort; Tulsa, Okla.; Rogers State University; South Central PGA Section

Maria Villamil; Bogota, Colombia; Lincoln University of Missouri; Kentucky PGA Section

Elizabeth Young; Lexington, N.C.; The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Middle Atlantic PGA Section

For more information about the PGA of America REACH Foundation, visit PGAREACH.org.

About the PGA of America

The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of more than 30,000 PGA of America Golf Professionals who love the game, are expert coaches, operators and business leaders, and work daily to drive interest, inclusion and participation in the sport. The PGA of America owns and operates numerous championships and events, including major championships for men, women, seniors and the Ryder Cup, one of the world’s foremost sporting events. For more information, visit PGA.com and follow us on X, Instagram and Facebook.

Media Contacts

Jesse Dodson, PGA of America, 801/995-0684, jdodson@pgahq.com
Jared Minski,  Mastro Communications, Inc., 732/546-4325, jared@mastrocomm.com

PGA of America Golf Professionals Oakley, Early, Barbin, and Bensel Advance in 2025 Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship

September 3, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Golf Professionals Oakley, Early, Barbin, and Bensel Advance in 2025 Philadelphia PGA Match Play ChampionshipPPGA

Horsham, Pa. (September 3, 2025) — PGA of America Golf Professionals Zac Oakley of Bidermann Golf Club, Kyle Early of Waynesborough Country Club, Zach Barbin of Chesapeake Bay Golf Club, and Trevor Bensel of LuLu Country Club, have each advanced to the semi-final matches of the 2025 Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship, and are all that remain of the 114 PGA Professionals who have been competing in the event since May. The semi-final and final matches are scheduled to take place on Tuesday, September 30 at the famed Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.

Sixteen PGA Professionals began their day at Commonwealth National Golf Club to vie for the four semi-final slots. In the Jack Connelly Bracket, Zac Oakley, Bidermann Golf Club, defeated Andrew Turner, C.C. of York, 3 and 2, while Mark Sheftic, Sunnybrook Golf Club, bettered John Pillar, Country Club at Woodloch Springs, 1-up. Waynesborough’s Kyle Early topped Clubhouse 54’s Michael Little 1-up in the Skee Riegel Bracket, setting up the match against Merion Golf Club’s Joanna Coe, who earlier defeated Aronimink Golf Club’s Riley Wheeldon, 3 and 1.

Zach Barbin, Chesapeake Bay Golf Club, won his match against Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green Golf Club, 1-up, in the Charlie Hoffner Bracket, while Mike Meisenzahl, Tavistock Country Club, bettered Parks Price, Hanover Country Club, 2 and 1. LuLu Country Club’s Trevor Bensel defeated Applebrook Golf Club’s Dave McNabb 5 and 3 in the Dick Smith Bracket, while Chester Valley Golf Club’s Brett Walker advanced by beating Shawnee Inn & Golf Resort’s Brian Bergstol 1-up.

In the afternoon Round of Eight, Oakley defeated Sheftic 2-up to claim the Connelly Division; Early topped Coe 2 and 1 to take the Riegel Division; Barbin bettered Meisenzahl 5 and 4 for the Hoffner Division, and Bensel took the Smith Division by beating Walker 1-up.

View the full 2025 Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship leaderboard by clicking here.

The 2025 Philadelphia PGA Match Play Championship is supported by Rolex and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank our partners, host Commonwealth National Golf Club, its membership, management, and staff, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

Pillar, Bensel, McNabb and Kennedy Win Inaugural Ohana Farm Team Championship Presented By OAKLEY

September 2, 2025Comments Off on Pillar, Bensel, McNabb and Kennedy Win Inaugural Ohana Farm Team Championship Presented By OAKLEYPPGA

Blue Bell, Pa. (September 2, 2025) — On a cool day with blue skies abundantly covering the beautiful Cedarbrook Country Club, PGA of America Golf Professionals John Pillar, Country Club at Woodloch Springs; Frank Bensel, Galloway National Golf Club; Dave McNabb, Applebrook Golf Club; and Eric Kennedy, Overbrook Golf Club won the 2025 Ohana Farm Team Championship presented by Oakley. Their team finished with an impressive score of 16-under-par.

This event featured a unique competition format: for each team of four, one best score will count on par fives, two best scores will count on par fours and three best scores will count on par threes.

Narrowly behind in second place at 12-under-par was the team of Michael Grabosky, Heidelberg Country Club; Brian Kelly, Titleist Fitcrew; Jack Brennan, Mountain View Country Club; and Stephen Swartz, Carlisle Country Club. Third place went to the team of Mike Caldwell and Matt Finger, DuPont Country Club; Braden Shattuck, Rolling Green Golf Club; and Brad Sanders, Sunnybrook Golf Club, as well as Anthony Malizia and Zac Oakley Bidermann Golf Club; Michael Rushin, Bear Trap Dunes; and Foster Haynes, Kings Creek Country Club. Both teams shot 11-under-par rounds. Two teams also tied for fifth place at 10-under-par. They were Kyle Jackson, Sunnybrook Golf Club; Rocco Sgrillo, John F. Bryne Golf Course; Trevor Bensel, Lulu Country Club; Billy Stewart, Union League Liberty Hill and Michael Chanaud, Bear Trap Dunes, Ryan Rucinski, Wilmington Country Club; Eric Willey, Kings Creek Country Club; and Greyson Rossi, The Peninsula Golf and Country Club.

Oakley also sponsored two closest to the pin contests on Hole 9 and Hole 16. Rick McCall of Rehoboth Beach Country Club claimed the prize on 9 with two feet, six inches while Eric Willey of Kings Creek Country Club was the closest on 16 with three feet, four inches.

To view the 2025 Ohana Farm Team Championship leaderboard, click here.

This event is presented by Ohana Farm LLC and Oakley. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA Professionals thank our host, Cedarbrook Country Club, their members, management, host PGA Professionals, and staff, as well as our partners, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com

PGA of America Golf Professional Tessa Teachman Captures 2025 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship

August 27, 2025Comments Off on PGA of America Golf Professional Tessa Teachman Captures 2025 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional ChampionshipPPGA

King of Prussia, Pa. (August 27, 2025) — On an unseasonably cool morning, PGA of America Golf Professional Tessa Teachman of Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square, Pa., captured the 2025 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship at Gulph Mills Golf Club with an even-par round of 72. She previously won the championship in 2023 at Chester Valley Golf Club.

Teachman bettered Gulph Mills’ own Beatrice Smith and Green Valley Country Club’s Brittany Weddell, PGA, by eight strokes. She turned at 2-over-par, but made four birdies on her final nine holes, including on No. 18, to get back to even.

“It was an interesting day,” Teachman said following the conclusion of play. “I was hitting it well, but just couldn’t get it going, but when we turned the back nine, my boyfriend and caddie (Andrew Cornish, PGA) lit a fire under me, and said ‘Let’s get moving. From there, the ball started going in the hole.”

Teachman was in the championship’s first pairing, and played in three hours. She said that having Cornish on her bag was crucial to keeping her round together.

“I love to play quickly,” Teachman continued. “Beatrice and I bpth walked, and got into a real good pace. It was nice to just play golf, and not worry about our pace.”

Teachman went on to thank Cornish, Aronimink Golf Club, Gulph Mills Golf Club for hosting, the Section, championship partners Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, Kevin McClellan, and the PGA Tour.

Wilmington Country Club’s Meghan Spero, PGA, made her first-ever hole-in-one on No. 17. She used a 5-iron from 153 yards. Well played, Meghan!

View the full 2025 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship leaderboard by clicking here.

The 2025 Women’s Philadelphia PGA Professional Championship is presented by Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board, and is supported by KM Golf Sales / Kevin McClellan, and the PGA Tour. The Philadelphia PGA Section and its PGA of America Golf Professionals thank our partners, host Gulph Mills Golf Club, its membership, management, and staff, as the event would not have been possible without their support.

About the Philadelphia PGA Section
The Philadelphia PGA Section, covering eastern Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and Delaware, is one of 41 geographical managing entities of the PGA of America. This Section manages nearly 900 PGA of America Members and Associates who are employed at over 590 golf facilities in our region.

Contact: Matt Frey, PGA, Communications Director, mfrey@pgahq.com